'Cash & Cari' Estate Sale Taps into Farmington History

From thick, turn-of-the-century business ledgers to anonymous family photos, shoppers at a Friday estate sale on Wesley St. in Farmington took home some Farmington history – and may have found a bit of fame.

The sale was filmed for an upcoming episode of Cash & Cari, which follows the adventures of Northville business owner Cari Cucksey as she combs through estate sales. This one, she said, was a perfect fit for her show

"It's really all about the story," she said, "and they have a great story here, so it made sense to include it in the show." 

The home belonged to Judy Cook, who died in August of 2011 and left behind stacks of old photos, business and family documents, World War II ration books and painstakingly copied family geneaologies. Cook's great-uncle Fred Cook ran a dry goods store in downtown Farmington around the turn of the century that was originally owned P.D. Warner, a Farmington pioneer and father of Fred M. Warner, Michigan's only 3-term governor. Cucksey said a scale from the Cook store was found intact. 

The sale opened at 10 a.m., and the crew let the line of shoppers into the home a few at a time, to avoid over-crowding. Because of the family's ties to the Warner family, representatives from the Governor Warner Mansion were among the first to arrive and snagged some artifacts for the city-owned house museum.

Hal Groat, a member of , said Cash & Cari brought a ceremonial sword to the Masonic Hall on Tuesday, where the crew filmed an appraisal of the antique. It was offered for sale at $350. Groat said the sword originally belonged to a man who was related to Cook through marriage, and was a member of the Farmington Lodge.

"You don't come across a Masonic commanders sword very often," Cucksey said. "It's just a lot of fun when you have such history."

The sale continues today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. City officials are expected to be on-site at 10 a.m., and items will be discounted as the sale comes to a close.